Fastener for loose sheets.



No. 857,238. PATENTED JUNE 18, 1907. F. P. HARRIS.

v PASTENER FOR LOOSE SHEETS.

APYLIUATIOR" FILED AUG. 17. 1905.

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FREDERICK P. HARRIS, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO.

FASTENER FOR LOOSE SHEETS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 18, 1907.

Application filed August 17,1905. Serial No. 274,526,

To all whom it may concern:

-Be it known that I, FREDERICK P. HARRIS, residing at Cleveland, in the county of Guyahoga and State of- Ohio, have invented a certain new and useful Im rovement in Fasteners for Loose Sheets, 0 which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawin s.

IVIy invention relates to fastening devices, articularly to such devices as are adapted to lie used for securing together loose leaves of l edgers, pads, books, etc., and covers there- The object of the invention is to produce a device of this kind that shall be simple and compact of construction; easy of application; capable of adjustment for pads, ledgers, etc., of varying thickness; and economical of production. I obtain these objects by the invention illustrated in the drawing, wherein Figure 1 represents a sectional view taken through a pad or ledger and through one form of my fastener, showing the manner in which the latter is applied to such pad or ledger; Fig. 2 represents a sectional view of a slightly modified form of the invention shown in Fig. 1; and Fig. 3 represents a sectional view ,of a still further modification of the in vention.

Describing the parts by reference numerals, 1 represents a ad or ledger, the same comprising a plura ity of sheets 2, one of which is shown with the end elevated above the body of the ad. The ad or ledger may be provided wit a suitable ack or cover 3 of any desired material. The back 3 and the leaves are eachprovided with a perforation sufficiently larger than the fastener to permit the same to be readily ap lied thereto. A cover for the top of the pad may be also provided, if desirable.

The form of fastener shown in Fig. 1 consists of a thimble 4 having at one end thereof a shoulder or flange 5, ada ted to engage the lowest sheet of the pad or edger or to engage the back 8, when such. back is provided. The thimble is of uniform bore throughout its length.

6 designates a cylindrical split sleeve, the exterior dimensions of which are such as to adapt it normally to be readily inserted into the thimble 4 and to be readily removed therefrom. This sleeve is provided with a suitable number of slits 7 extending from near the upper end thereof to the lower end thereof. The metal of said sleeve is gradually thickened from at or near the top to the bottom thereof, producing a tapering bore within said sleeve. At its upper end, the said sleeve is provided with a head 8 and flange 9, the latter being adapted to engage the adjacent surface of the up erinost sheet of the pad or ledger, the said ange being of greater extent than the opening or perforation in said sheet. A plunger is mounted within the sleeve 6, said plunger comprising a ta ered body 10, a stem 11, and an operating andle or button 12. The outer surface of the body 10 is tapered to correspond to the tapered inner surface of the sleeve, whereby, on adjusting the plunger downwardly, the sleeve is distended and caused to firmly engage the inner walls of the thimble 4, thereby locking said sleeve and thimble together. The thimble, sleeve, and plunger may be made of any desired length to accommodate ledgers of varying thickness, considerable latitude in this respect being provided by the adjustment of the sleeve within the thimble. The sleeve may be almost withdrawn from the thimble 4 but, by the action of the plunger, may be firmly secured in engagement therewith; or it may be adjusted downwardly until the flange 9 is in contact with the top of the thimble, thereby fitting a thin pad or ledger.

As will appear from an inspection of Figs.

1 and-3, the head 8 is elevated above the.

plane of the flange 9 and the button or finger piece, 12, is beveled at its lower edge. This permits the insertion of a knife blade or other device between the flange and the button to assist in Withdrawing the plunger should it jam in the sleeve.

In Fig. 2 I have shown a form of the plunger which is identical with that shown in Fig. 1, except that the stem 11 is threaded to engage a correspondingly threaded opening in the head 8 for enabling the said plunger to be adjusted b rotation of its stem instead of by sliding t e same.

In Fig. 3 I have shown a further modification of the means for adjusting the plunger. In this fi ure, the slotted sleeve 19 has its lower wal thickened inwardly at 20 to form a downwardly tapering surface for engagement by the plunger body 21. The latter is also tapered downwardly, the inclination of the tapered body being less than that of the surface 20, an is provided with a spiral groove 22 engaging a pin 23 carried by the IIO ness, and to permit the addition to a ledgeror pad of a large number of additional leaves.

Having thus described my invention what I claim is:

1. A fastener for the purpose specified, said fastener comprisin a thimble having at the lower end thereof a flange, a sleeve adapted to fit within said thimble and having at its upper end a flange and a head, said head being provided with a central perforation, said sleeve being also provided with slits extend- I ing through the lower end thereof, the bore of said sleeve being contracted toward said lower end, and a plunger in said bore having a body adapted to engage the contracted portion of the bore, an operating stem for said. plunger extending through the central perforation of said head, and a finger piece or Ilgugton for said stem, substantially as speci- 2. A fastener for the purpose specified, said fastener comprising a thimble having at the lower end thereof a flange, a sleeve adapted to fit within said thjmble and having at its upper end a flange and a head, said head being provided with a central perforation, said sleeve being also provided with slits extending through the lower end thereof, the bore of said sleeve being contracted toward said lower end, and a plunger in said bore, having a body adapted to engage the contracted portion of the bore, an operating stem for said plunger extending through the central perforation of said head, a finger piece or button for said stem, and a screw connection between said plunger and said sleeve, substan tially as specified.

3. In a fastener for the purpose specified, the combination of a tubular thimble having at the lower end thereof a flange, a sleeve having at its upper'end a flange, the said sleeve being provided with slits extending through the lower end thereof and having its inner wall projected inwardly toward its lower end to contract the bore thereof, a plunger for distending said sleeve, said plunger comprising a body portion adapted to engage the inwardly projected portion of the inner wall of the sleeve, said body portion having a spiral groove thereon, a pin projecting inwardly from the sleeve and engaging said groove, and a button or finger piece for rotating said body portion, substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

FREDERICK P. HARRIS.

Witnesses:

J. B. HULL, B. W. BROOKETT. 

